Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Rohan Sinanan, Sen. Anil Roberts and Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas, who are out of the country. Ms. Yokymma Bethelmy, Dr. Tim Gopeesingh and Mr. Ndale Young were appointed temporary senators in their place.

Sen. Dr. Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim [Vice-President of the Senate]

Temporary Senators Bethelmy, Gopeesingh and Young took the oath of allegiance.

Sen. Yokymma Bethelmy [Government Senator (Temporary)]

Sen. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]

Sen. Ndale Young [Government Senator (Temporary)]

One report was presented. See Order Paper for details.

Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]

One urgent question was posed. See Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Wade Mark [President of the Senate]

Sen. Dr. Amery Browne [Opposition Senator]

Eight questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered. See Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Wade Mark [President of the Senate]

Sen. the Hon. Donna Cox [Minister of Social Development and Family Services]

Sen. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]

Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP [Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]

Sen. the Hon. Hassel Bacchus [Minister of Digital Transformation and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]

Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]

Mr. Colm Imbert, MP [Opposition Member]

Sen. the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon [Minister of Trade and Industry]

Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]

Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye [Independent Senator]

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of The Property Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Thirteen senators added their voice to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of Finance. With 16 votes for, 7 votes against and 7 abstentions, the bill was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Colm Imbert, MP [Opposition Member]

Sen. the Hon. Wade Mark [President of the Senate]

Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye [Independent Senator]

Sen. the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon [Minister of Trade and Industry]

Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial [Opposition Senator]

Sen. Dr. Sharda Patasar [Independent Senator]

Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]

Sen. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]

Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]

Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]

Sen. Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy [Independent Senator]

Sen. Deoroop Teemal [Independent Senator]

Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]

Sen. Anthony Vieira raised a matter on the adjournment namely “The need for the Government to implement legislative and policy measures to preserve this country’s environmental biodiversity by making areas within the Northern Range protected nature reserves”. The Minister of Planning and Development, Hon. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, MP, responded.

Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]

Hon. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, MP [Leader of the Opposition]

The Sitting concluded at 11:18 p.m.